The NFL isn’t too thrilled with Saints quarterback Derek Carr’s latest touchdown celebration and has fined him for it.
In Week 2, the New Orleans Saints crushed the Dallas Cowboys 44-19 at AT&T Stadium (aka Jerry World), with Carr putting on an impressive show. He threw for 243 yards, tossed two touchdown passes, and even ran one in himself. Alvin Kamara also had a standout performance, catching one of Carr’s TDs and adding three rushing touchdowns of his own. This dominant win bumped the Saints to a 2-0 start, and Carr has been getting a lot of praise for his strong start to the 2024 season after a shaky first year with the team.
But just as Carr was riding high, the NFL decided to pump the brakes. The league slapped him with a $14,000 fine for his touchdown celebration, proving once again why fans sometimes call it the “No Fun League.”
So, what was the celebration? After scoring a rushing touchdown in the second quarter, Carr pulled out a Michael Jackson-inspired dance move, complete with the famous crotch grab Jackson often did during his performances. While Saints fans at the stadium loved the tribute, the NFL wasn’t as amused.
This isn’t the first time the league has punished players for the same move. Back in the day, running back Marshawn Lynch was fined for grabbing his crotch after touchdowns as well. The NFL sees it as crossing a line, even if fans might see it as harmless fun.
Carr’s touchdown helped push the Saints’ lead to 35-13 over the Cowboys, making it his third score of the day. But despite the crowd enjoying the show, the NFL made it clear they don’t want to see any more “MJ” moves on the field. So, unless Carr wants to keep getting fined, that might be the last time he moonwalks his way through a celebration.